HC extends stay on speedy trial of arson case

Tuesday, September 4, 2012 The High Court on Tuesday extended for three months its earlier order that stayed the operation of a Dhaka court dealing with an arson case against 46 opposition leaders and activists including BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
A vacation bench of Justice Hasan Foez Siddique and Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam extended the order after hearing a petition filed by Mahbub Uddin Khokon, a BNP lawmaker and an accused of the case, seeking extension on the earlier order.
On August 6, another HC bench stayed the operation of the speedy trial for eight weeks following a writ petition filed by Mahbub Uddin Khokon on September 3.
Khokon told the Daily Star on Tuesday that the HC on August 6 stayed the operation of the court for eight weeks, which will expire at the last of September when the court will remain in vacation.
"Considering it, I have filed the petition seeking extension on the High Court's August 6 order," Khokon said.
He also said the latest extension order for three months will be counted from today.